.. True horsepower
? Lots of money 
Cheap Horsepower?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Cheap Horsepower?
So I recently picked up a c5 and im absolutely new to that era vette and ls1 motor. So i was wondering, would a new air intake, cam, and exhaust be a good combo for some cheap horsepower?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 138
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
Pick up a service manual, shop around and perform the work yourself. That will save you and enormous amount of money.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Spring Texas
Are you planing on doing the work yourself? Or looking for some shops in the Houston area?
What is your idea of cheap?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 4
From: Freeport, FL
Headers are great to improve upon the flow capabilities of the engine, but if you don't first change what controls how much airflow can occur you don't really need the headers.
Cam is worth power throughout the ENTIRE rpm range in a noticeable fashion, unlike headers or CIA.
Here's a link to a cam swap article.
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...en3/index.html
You may want to really ask yourself what it is that you are looking to achieve though. Is it really power that you want, or just the perception of power. A good exhaust sound, CIA, and tune would be the best for the latter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 7,373
Likes: 1,128
From: cold & windy
For those suggesting a long tube header for "most bang for the buck" you may want to consider a cam swap instead.
Headers are great to improve upon the flow capabilities of the engine, but if you don't first change what controls how much airflow can occur you don't really need the headers.
Cam is worth power throughout the ENTIRE rpm range in a noticeable fashion, unlike headers or CIA.
Here's a link to a cam swap article.
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...en3/index.html
You may want to really ask yourself what it is that you are looking to achieve though. Is it really power that you want, or just the perception of power. A good exhaust sound, CIA, and tune would be the best for the latter.
Headers are great to improve upon the flow capabilities of the engine, but if you don't first change what controls how much airflow can occur you don't really need the headers.
Cam is worth power throughout the ENTIRE rpm range in a noticeable fashion, unlike headers or CIA.
Here's a link to a cam swap article.
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...en3/index.html
You may want to really ask yourself what it is that you are looking to achieve though. Is it really power that you want, or just the perception of power. A good exhaust sound, CIA, and tune would be the best for the latter.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Headers - 20-30hp gain
Cam without full potential due to no headers - 40hp ish ( more than that and itll get more expensive cause youll need better springs, pushrods, etc.. should get em anyway though for safety)
From my experience everything I do to my c5 costs about double what I paid to do on my c4, usually more..
Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 720
Likes: 2
From: Walnut Creek CA
Of course, then you'll get passed by a new ZR1 and you'll want to add heads, cam, and headers to the supercharger so that you can give them a bit of a surprise....and so goes the endless spiral of modding. IMO, there's no "cheap" power because it's like a gateway drug, it just makes you want MORE!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Also, lets say I go with a Vararam, Cam, and borla straight pipes (exhaust of my choice) what cam would I see most hp gains with just the Vararam and Straight pipes (dont think that the straight pipes will matter much).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 7,373
Likes: 1,128
From: cold & windy
I would go so far as to say that most cams that are worth the effort and cost to install would need CAI, HEADS & HEADERS to realize their full potential....now you're getting close to the cost of a supercharger.
Of course, then you'll get passed by a new ZR1 and you'll want to add heads, cam, and headers to the supercharger so that you can give them a bit of a surprise....and so goes the endless spiral of modding. IMO, there's no "cheap" power because it's like a gateway drug, it just makes you want MORE!
Of course, then you'll get passed by a new ZR1 and you'll want to add heads, cam, and headers to the supercharger so that you can give them a bit of a surprise....and so goes the endless spiral of modding. IMO, there's no "cheap" power because it's like a gateway drug, it just makes you want MORE!
